More than 60 villagers were massacred by the Haganah on the 31st of December 1947 (new years eve Massacre).

Refugees' migration route

Some went to Haifa harbor, and some went to Acre.

Exodus Cause

Military assault by Jewish troops

Village remainsafter destruction by Israelis

Mostly the village has survived destruction. Many of the houses and shops are still standing and are occupied by Jewish settlers. The cemetery is visible and it's in a state of neglect. Late 1999, the cemetery and the grave of 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam were desecrated.

Ethnically cleansingby Israelis

Partial ethnical cleansing took place already soon after the New Year's Eve massacre and on 24.April 1948, the rest of the inhabitants were ethnically cleansed and bused out by British troops.

Land ownershipbefore occupation

Ethnic Group

Land Ownership (Dunums)

Arab

5,844

Jewish

285

Public

3,720

Total

9,849

Land usage in 1945

Land Usage Type

Arab (Dunum)

Jewish (Dunum)

Irrigated & Plantation

368

0

Area planted w/ olives

418

0

Planted W/ Cereal

4,563

78

Built up

241

0

Cultivable

4,931

78

Non-Cultivable

4,392

207

Populationbefore occupation

Year

Population

19th century

350

1922

407

1931

747

1945

4,120

1948

4,779

Est. Refugees 1998

29,349

Number of houses

Year

Number of houses

1931

144

1948

921

Town's name through history

The village was named after al-Shaykh 'Abdallah al-Sahli and the village cemetery currently contains the grave of al-Shaykh 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam (the grave was desecrated in late 1999).

Schools

Balad al-Shaykh had an elementary school for boys which was founded by the Ottomans in 1887.

Notable people from town

The village was named after al-Shaykh 'Abdallah al-Sahli and the village cemetary currently contains the grave of al-Shaykh 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam (the grave was desecrated in late 1999).

Shrines/maqams

A Maqam for the renowned Sufi al-Shaykh 'Abdallah al-Sahli.

Archeological sites

On the north side of the village is the tomb of Shaykh Abdallah al- Sahli and adjacent to it, it's Khan, which probably dates back to the Mameluk Period.

According to the Palestinian historian Walid Khalidi, the village remaining structures on the village land are:
"Many of the Arab houses and shops are still standing and are occupied by the settlement's inhabitants. The cemetery is visible and is in a state of neglect."